Vernon GarthChristian

1920 Federal Census, Kiowa County, Oklahoma, 13 January, Mountain View, District 142, page 5B, Hse/Fam #40

Christian, Cleve Head M W 36 TX TX TX Rancher

Christian, Sallie Wife F W 26 OK TX TX

Christian, Vernon son M W 5mos OK TX OK (makes him born about July 1919)

1930 Federal Census, Kiowa County, Oklahoma, 9 April, Dill, District 4, page 5B, Hse #101, Fam #102

Christian, Cleve Head M W 46 TX MS MS Farmer

[Note that birthplace of both parents has changed]

Christian, Sallie Wife F W 36 OK TX TX

Christian, Vernon son M W 10 OK TX OK

Some time between 1935 and 1940, Vernon became an employee of the US Air Corps, and int he 1940 census he is reported as a civilian airplane mechanic at Randolph Air Field near San Antonio, Texas.

1940 Federal Census, Bexar County, Texas, 12 April, Randolph Field, 52nd School Squadron Air Corps, District 15-20, page 16A, Hse #464, Govt Owned

Christian, Vernon G Head M W 20 Single Grade H4 b Oklahoma Rural Kiowa CO OK in 1935 Airplane Mechanic, Civilian Employee [b abt 1920]

When he registered for the WWII draft, Vernon was in Chickasha, Oklahoma.

U.S. WWII Draft Cards Young Men, 1940-1947

Vernon Garth Christian

Residence Chickasha, Grady, Oklahoma, USA

Age 26

Birth 5 Aug 1919 Mountain View, Oklahoma, USA

Contact Person Cleve Christian (father)

No Employer, Unemployed

5'8" 150 lbs, Brown Eyes, Brown Hair, Ruddy Complexion

Registered 12 Sep 1945

(no Image Available, Index record only)

In a letter to Lou Ila Gregory from her fiancée, Orville Lee Jenkins, Orville mentions that he had attended Vernon's wedding the previous Sunday, which would be 28 July 1946.

In 1952, Vernon was living in Anadarko. He was employed by a company in Chickasha, where he was listed in the City Directory.

U.S. City Directories, 1821-1989

Chickasha, Oklahoma, City Directory, 1952, p 55

Christian Bobby D stdnt r 915 S 6th

Christian Broom (Ralph F Christian) h 915 S 6th

Christian Ralph F (Anna M; Christian Broom Mfg) h 915 S 6th

Christian Sally (wid Cleve) h 2713 S 18th

Christian Vernon G mtce mech Standard Cable r Anadarko

"CHRISTIAN, Vernon G, 5 Aug 1919 - 30 Jun 1960 (burial 2 Jul) (Block 36, Lot 106, NE 1/4)"

-- Rosehill Cemetery Registry, Chickasha, Oklahoma, http://ftp.rootsweb.com/pub/usgenweb/ok/grady/cemeteries/rose03.txt.

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Helen Pauline was Uncle Vernon Garth Christian's wife, he was killed when a semi fell on him. He is the original Vernon Garth Christian and was my Grandpa Harveys Brother. They had 3 children Garth, Gary and Gay.

My Grandpa Harvey named my dad after his brother who was Vernon Garth Christian Sr. My brother is a Jr and was named after my dad of course. My mother's name is Donna Lee Christian (Handley).

-- Brenda Mitchell, Ancestry Messaging to Orville Boyd Jenkins, 23 April 2018

From my childhood memory of attending the funeral and hearing my father explain what happened to his cousin, I remember the vehicle as a car. This is confirmed in the full text I include below from the obituary published in the Anadarko newspaper in 1960.

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U.S., Newspapers.com Obituary Index, 1800s-current
Vernon G Christian
Age 40
Birth 5 August 1919 Mountain View (Kiowa County, Oklahoma)
Death 30 June 1960 Anadarko (Caddo County, Oklahoma)
Obituary Title "Vernon G Christian Services Held Sat."
Obituary published 8 July 1960 in The Verden News, Verden (Grady County), Oklahoma, USA
Mother Sallie Christian
Spouse Pauline
Children: Gary, Garth, Paula Gay
Siblings: Cleva Weaver, Harvey, Harold, Dwain

U.S., Newspapers.com Obituary Index, 1800s-current
Vernon G Christian
Age 40
Birth 5 August 1919 Mountain View (Kiowa County, Oklahoma)
Death June 1960 Anadarko (Caddo County, Oklahoma)
Obituary Title "Rural Resident Fatally Injured When Car Falls"
Obituary published 1 July 1960 in the Anadarko Daily News, Anadarko (Caddo County), Oklahoma, USA
Father Cleve Christian
Children: Gary, Garth, Paula Gay
Siblings: Cleva Veaver, Harvey, Harold, Dwain

The full text of the Anadarko Obituary was found.

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"Rural Resident Fatally Injured When Car Falls"

Funeral services for Vernon G Christian, 40, who died at his rural home Thursday afternoon when a car slipped from a jack and fell on him, will be 3 pm Saturday at the Presbyterian Church in Anadarko.

Christian was working under his car at 4:45 pm Thursday when the jack slipped and he was pinned under one of the back rear springs. The accident occurred at his farm home five miles northeast of Anadarko.

Rev Wilbur Clark will officiate at services. Burial will be in Chickasha cemetery under the direction of the Smith Funeral Home.

He was born Aug 5, 1919, at Mountain View to Cleve and Sallie (Jenkins) Christian. A farmer, he served in World War II.

Survivors include his wife, of the home; two sons, Gary and Garth, of the home; a daughter, Paula Gay; his mother, Mrs Sallie Christian, of Chickasha; a sister, Mrs Cleva Weaver of Verden; three brothers, Harvey of Burkburnett, Tex, Harold of Minneapolis, Minn, and Dwain of Duncan.

-- Anadarko Daily News, Anadarko, Oklahoma, Friday, 1 July 1960, page 1, accessed for Connections genealogy 20 April 2022
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Karen, who posted Vernon's memorial on Find a Grave, added information from my research to Vernon's memorial.

Vernon G Christian

Birth 5 Aug 1919 Mountain View, Kiowa County, Oklahoma

Death 30 Jun 1960 Oklahoma

Burial Rose Hill Cemetery, Chickasha, Grady County, Oklahoma, Block 36, Lot 106

Parents:

Grover C Christian 1884 - 1939

Sallie Hester Christian 1893 - 1982

Siblings:

Cleva Inez Weaver 1912 - 2000

Harvey L Christian 1915 - 1987

Created by Karen 05 Jul 2010

-- Find A Grave Memorial 54527736, https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/54527736/christian